Pump unit



Feb. 22, 1944. 5M L.' DUNN ET AL 2,342,183

PUMP UNIT y Filed March 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W IG 22 Fel-. 22, 1944. w. 1 DUNN E'r Al.

PUMP UNIT Filed March fr, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 maentors: WILL/nm L. Dun/H 3 Fleas C. RAN/51N vttornegs Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,342,188 lPUMP UNIT y William L. Dunn, charlotte, and 'Fred c. Rankin,

Stanley, N. C. i w Applieauminaeh 7, 1941, serial No. 382,118

4 claims. (C1. 10a- 3) l This invention relates to pumps and more specifically to one of the reversible centrifugal type.

It is an object of this invention to provide reversing pump units comprising an outer casing having a pair of openings therein, which casing has a centrifugal pump with a pump housing mounted therein, the outlet port of which is adapted to communicate with either of said openings and the inlet pori-I of which is adapted to communicate with the opening, not communicating with the outlet port. This type of structure makes it possible to easily reverse the direction of ilow through the outer housing by shifting the outlet port of the centrifugal pump housing relative to the openings.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reversing unit as above described in combination with a yarn kier circulating system wherein the ports in the casing are so connected that the uid in the system can be circulated and recirculated in either direction through the yarn within the kier.

It is another object of this invention to provide a circulating system constructed substantially as follows: A conduit having a yarn kier interposed therein has the ends thereof leading into a casing in which a centrifugal pump housing is rotatably mounted. The outlet of the pump housing may.

be caused to coincide with either end of said conduit while the other end of the conduit communicates with the inlet yport of the pump housing. Also communicating with the pump inlet port is a fluid supply such as an expansion tank, and leading from the outer casing is a drain valve. When it is desired to draw fluid from the tank and direct it through the kier in either direction to the drain valve, it is only necessary to open the valve and then rotate the centrifugal pump housing to cause the outlet of the pump housing to communicate with the desired end of the conduit. The last-named operation is Y commonly called the running wash wherein the dye liquor is expelled from the circulating system and another iluid from the expansion tank is directed rst in one direction and then in another through the yarn kier as it ows to the drain.

It is another object of this invention to provide a circulating system as above described in which the fluid upon its return into the outer casing as it travels to the drain valve is conducted along a path which leads below the eye of the impeller or inlet of the centrifugal pump housing. During the running wash, the head at the eye of the impeller is maintained substantially at zero by the inflow of water from the expansion tank. By returning the uid from lthe yarn kier below the eye of the impeller there will be no tendency for it to be drawn again into the inlet of the pump housing, because a negative head would be required. In other words, during the running wash, the circulating dye fluid is immediately expelled through the drain valve and is followed by another uid which is drawn fromthe expansion tank. Practically none of the same uid re-enters the impeller housing to be recirculated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a circulating'- systemjof the class described in which a baille plate is mounted in the lower portion of the expansion tank and above the opening therein `whereby vortices will be prevented from forming and air will not be permitted to enterthe system. Air not only causes bubbles to form in yarn packages being dyed and thus prevents even distribution of the dye, but it is also very injurious to certain types of dyes, and often causes oxidation, resulting in poor dyeing. The baie, not onlyl serves to prevent air from enter-,- ing the, system, but also serves to counteract disturba'nce` of the liquid in the tank due to coughing or escape of air, should air by any chance get into the system. Y

It is another object of this invention to provide a cooling and heating system for yarn kiers, comprising a jacket disposed around the kier and having-two compartments therein, one for. circulationL of a heating agent such as steam and the'likeand the other for the circulation of a cooling agent such as water.

Some of the objects of the vinvention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is an elevation with certain portions thereof shown in section, illustrating an improved pump unit as applied to a yarn circulating system;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing certain portions in section and omitting other portions of Figure 1;

Figure'3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an elevation of the pump unit detached from its associated parts, said view being taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the pump along the line 5`5 in Figure 2; Figure 6,is a sectional detail plan view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7A is a sectional plan view through the pump unit showing the interior thereof in elevation, said view being similar to the central portion of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 2, showing the opposite side of the pump unit from that illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral II) denotes a suitable base upon which a yarn kier II is mounted, said yarn kier having a package holder I2 on the interior thereof (Figure 3) which has upstanding perforated tubes I4. Around each of these tubes, a plurality of packages of yarn I5 are mounted. The kier is provided with a suitable cover I6 which The impeller 46 has an inlet opening or an eye 55 through which the liquid enters during the operation of the pump. This eye communicates with an enlarged arcuate space 51a in the cover 35 said space being formed by an outwardly projecting blister 56 on the cover. The space 51a also communicates with one of the pipes 3| or 32, depending upon the position that the outlet port of the impeller housingoccupies. With the outlet pipe 45 in the position shown in Figure 3, the eye of the impeller 55 has communication with the outlet 3| by way of space 51a; where- Y as if the outlet pipe 45 should be communicating is pivoted as at I'I to arms I8, said arms being Y pivoted intermediate their ends -as at I9, and having a counterweight on the other ends which facilitates the opening and closing of the lid IiS. Suitable ,boltsZIandnuts 22 are employed for clamping theioover I6 .in a Y.tight pesitionover the upper portion of the yarn 'kier lilv Leading from the upper portion of .thecoyer orlid L6 is a Vent and feed pipe'ZS which pipe hasA its other endleadineto .a point above en eX- pension tank 21. A suitable valve 28 is disposed `in .the pipe 26, which .valve is manipulated when it is .desired to vent the upperportionof kier I I, orwhen itis Adesired to permit some of the dye liquor within the kier to drain therefrom into vthe expansion tank 21.

The bottom portion ofthe yarn kier I I (Figure 3) has pipes .2 9 and 30 leading therefrom, the p ipe29 being adapted'to communicate with the exteriorof the packages of yarn on the package holder I2, and thepipe 30 being adapted to communicate with the interior of the packages. `The openings in suitable pipes 3I and 32 are adapted to., coincide.With the `openings in pipes 29 and 30 respectively, said pipes 3| and 32 leading into astationary outer casing broadly designated by the 4referencecharacter 33. VBy referring to Figure 5, it is seen that the outer casing '33 comprises .two ,parts, namely, -casing 3,4 and casing cover 3 5, said members -34 and 35 being removably secured together by means of suitable bolts 36. The casing parts 34 and .35 are shouldered as at 3] and38 respectively, thereby forming a peripheral trackway over ,which flanges 40 and 4I of an impeller housing 42 is adapted to slid- .ably t. An impeller shaft 44 is the axis ,about which housing 42 rotates although it is not directly connected thereto. Also the impeller housing 42 has an outlet pipe 45 the end of which is adapted to snugly slide against the interior p e.-

riphery 45l ofthe Acasing 3.4 to be rotated so that the outlet therein will coincide with either the openings in pipes `3| o r 32, depending upon the direction of -,circulation of the iuid desired in the circulating system. The means f or rotating the impeller housing will be described later.

This impeller housing 4 2 has enmpeller 46 rotatably mounted therein. and. iixed1y .Secured en the end of shaft 44 previously described. jt is seen that the impellerhas a plurality of outwardly extending v anes ,41 which are spaced apart so as to f orm Aopenings 48 through which the fluid is adapted tc pass during normal op.- eration of thepump. kThis impellerhas annular flanges 5.a n d 5I ,which rotatably it against annularshoulders 52 and 53 of members 34 and 35 respectively, thereby providing a close t and preventing escape of a uid from the interior ofthe impeller housing .4.2 except by way of openings 48.

with the upper pipe 3|, the eye 55 would com- Inuicate with lower pipe 32 by way of space 51a. The outlet pipe has a flange portion 45a which slidably fits against arcuate surface 5'I on the interior of housing 34.

In order to turn the outlet pipe 45 of the impeller housing 46 from one .position to the other, within the casing 33, a Asuitable arcuate rack 60 has been provided on the outer periphery of the impeller housing (Figures .3 and '7). This rack is adapted to mesh vwith a pinion 6I, saidpinion being disposed on the interior of outer casing 34 and xedly secured 4around a ,shaft 62. By ob.- serving Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8, it will be seen that the shaft 3,2 extends to the exterior of the casing and has a beveled gear 63 on .the end thereof, which gear meshes with another beveled gear 64 on the lower end of ,a vertically ,disposedoperating shaft 65. The operating shaft '65 .extends upwardly above a'iioor E6 and through a stand Sl. Upon the upper end of the shaft 65, a suitable operating handle 68 is secured. This operating handle is manipulated .to rotate the shaft S5 when it is desired to turn the impeller housing 42 and the associated outlet vpipe 45 Within cas.- ing 33.

When the parts are in the lpositionshown in Figure 3,-and the systemis filled with a suitable circulating uid such as dye liquor, ,the iiuid is drawn into the impeller housing bywayof opening or eye and expelled through the openings 43 between vanes 4l. Then the liquid ,passesout of pipe 45, through pipes 32, 30 and up on the interior of perforated pipes-of package carrier I2. From this stand, the fluid passes upwardly through perforated tubes', I 4 and then out through the packages of yarn I5, from whence itis permitted to circulate downwardly on the exterior of the stand I2, through pipes 2S and 3| and into space 51a after which it returns to the eye 55 for recirculation.

Particular attention is Acalled to the fact that the dye solution, after leaving the yarn kier, returns to the casing 33 and is directed to a'position below the eye 55 before it is permitted to vagain enter the impeller eye. 'This is a very Valuable feature in the running wash operation which'will subsequently be described. 'When it is desired to reverse the direction of flow from Athat previously described, it is only ynecessary Ltomanipulate the handle 68 and thereby rotate rthe impellenhousing 42 to a position where -thenuuet'pio'e ,4s-win communicate with opening A3-I. When injthisposition, the fluid will be forcedfrom the impeller casing through pipes 3l and 29, through packages I5 into the interior of the perforated tubes IL4 and into the manifold I2a -of package carriage I2. From the inside of the manifold, .the circulating fluid will pass through pipes 30 and 32 and into space 57a.

In order to drive theimpeller shaft 44, a suitable motor G9 is provided. This motor has a shaft extending therefrom and is joined to the shaft 44 by tmeans of a suitable coupling 1I. The shaft 44 is supported by a suitable bracket 12, said bracket resting upon suitable I-beams 14.` One end of bracket 1,2 has a flange portion 13 to which is secured the casing 34 by any suitable means such as bolts 13a. The I-beams 14 also support the motor 69.

The casing cover has a port 80 over which the lower end of a pipe 8| is adapted to fit, said pipe having a check valve 82 therein.- The upper portion of thepipe 8| is connected to the lower portion of the expansion tank 21. Also leading from the outercasing 33 is a pipe 84 to which is connected a drain valve 85. After the dye liquor in the circulating system has been circulated and recirculated through the packages of yarn the desired length of time, it is often desired to drain the liquor from the system and to wash the yarn with another uid before :finally removing it from the kier. In order to do this, it is necessary to open the drain Valve 85 so that the liquor or fluid in the circulating system will be permitted to escape and at the same time other fluid from the expansion tank 21 will be permitted to move downwardly through opening 85 and into eye 55 of the impeller from'whence it Will be expelled therefrom through port 45 and into one of the openings 3| or 32. The uid will then be circulated in one direction or the other through the yarn kier, but regardless of the direction in which it is circulated, it will be returned to the casing 33 along a path of flow which is disposed below the eye 55.

As previously pointed out, the head at the impeller eye is substantially zero when the running Wash is being employed due to the flow of iiuid from the expansion tank 21 into opening 55. Therefore, since it would require a negative head to pull the returning iluid upwardly back into the eye and recirculate it through the pump and kier, the uid will immediately ow out through the drain valve 35 instead.

This drain valve 35 has a closure member 9i) mounted therein which is disposed on the lower end of a shaft 9|, said shaft extending upwardly (Figure 1) through floor 56 and through a stand 92. The upper end of the shaft has an operating wheel 93 thereon which is turned when it is desired to open or close the valve 85.

The upper portion of the impeller housing 42 has a vent hole |00 therein which permits the air within the pump to esca-pe to the upper portion of the outer casing 33. From the upper portion of the outer casing, the air moves upwardly through vent pipe |52, valve |53, and is expelled into the expansion tank Z1. Of course Where there is liquid mixed with the air, the surplus liquid will fall back into the expansion tank 21.

It is very essential that vortices be prevented from forming in the expansion tank 21` because air in the circulating system is very often injurious to certain dyes on account of oxidation. In order to prevent vortices from forming, a suitable circular baiile plate I Il) is mounted in spaced relation to the bottom of the expansion tank 21 and directly above the opening in pipe 8|, which leads to the pump unit. This plate not only prevents air from entering the circulating system but should some air inadvertently get into the system and have a tendency to spit or backre it will serve to retard the disturbance of fluid in the tank which would occur when this backi'lre occurs. This backre is commonly called coughing" because the air in the system is nding an outlet through the expansion tank. As an'additional means for preventing vortices in the circulating system, a suitable blade |05 is se-v cured acrossv the impeller opening (Figures 5 and 6).

The yarn kier is very often made of stainless steel in orderto prevent rust. The low heat conductivity o f stainless steel often makes it necessary to provide a cooling system for the yarn kier because there is an increased heat due to the circulation and recirculation of the uid, during normal operation. Also kiers are often made of cast iron, having a high conductivity and also having a greater radiation thereby making it necessary toadd heat so that the circulation system will be kept at the proper temperature, a temperature which ranges sometimes as low as 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, when stainless steel vis used and a very high dye temperature is used, e. g., 200 degrees Fahrenheit, it is often necessary to add heat to the kier during normal operations, but these are exceptional cases.

Heretofore, in some instances, a single jacket has been used around the kier through which steam or other heating agent was circulated. when it was desired to heat the yarn kier. A suitable cooling agent such as water was introduced in this same jacket when it was desired to cool the same. This has been unsatisfactory. Where only one compartment was employed for both water and steam it was necessary to provide a steam trap in the outlet pipe to collect condensate. When the cooling was necessary the steam must be exhausted and water admitted into the jacket. The steam trap ordinarily pro# vided is not large enough to permit the water to flow fast enough from the jacket to give the proper cooling circulation.

This diculty has been overcome in the present invention by providing jacket II2 having two compartments I I3 and H4 therein, extending entirely around the kier. The compartment II3 is used for circulating the water and has an inlet pipe IIS with a valve II'I therein. The water ows from compartment H3 by way of pipe |I5. The lower compartment IM is used for steam and has an outlet pipe IIB with a valve IIB therein and also has an outlet pipe |20 having a condensation trap I2| therein. The two compart ments can be used independently, therefore no `difliculty will arise so far as quick cooling or heat- 'ing .is concerned.

When the circulating system is iirst charged, it is necessary to heat the uid to an initial starting temperature. This initial temperature is provided by admitting steam into the pump casing by way of a pipe |25, said pipe having a valve |26 therein. A perforated strainer or grill |21 serves to reduce the noise of the steam as it is admitted.

When the pump is connected to a dyeing kier I I2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dyeing kier is completely full of liquid and all pipes including the pump are also full of liquid. The expansion tankis also partially filled with the liquid, as well as its pipe leading to the pump. Therefore, even though there is an intake port leading from the kier into the pump and an intake port leading from the expansion tank into the pump, no liquid can flow from the expansion tank into the pump unless the kier should not be completely filled with liquid. As the liquid expands in the kier, it passes through pipe 26 into the expansion tank, but in any event, the intake port from the kier will have suction applied thereto by the pump for the'reason that the kier being full, there will be no passage of liquid from the expansion tank into the pump, because there will be no room for it in the kier.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specic terms are employed they are in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

l. A reversible centrifugal pump comprising an outer casing having two ports, a movable pump casing rotatably mounted in the outer casing and having a centrifugal pump therein, the inner casing having an outlet port along its periphery and having an inlet opening along its axis of rotation, means for selectively moving the inner casing so as to cause its outlet port to register with .either of the ports of the outer casing, the

inner casing having a sliding water-sealed fit with the walls of the outer casing, the outer casing having an enlargement on one side thereof forming a passageway disposed alongside both ports of the outer casing and being in communication with one of the two ports in the outer casing at all times, whereby liquid entering the outer casing through either of the ports of the outer casing will pass along and outside of the inner casing to the lower part of the outer casing, and said lower part of the outer casing including said enlarged passageway having communication with the inlet port of the inner casing.

2. A reversible centrifugal pump comprising an outer casing having two ports, a movable pump casing rotatably mounted in the outer casing and having a centrifugal pump therein, the inner casing having an outlet port along its periphery and having an inlet opening along its axis of rotation, means for selectively moving the inner casing so ras to cause its outlet port to register lwith either of the ports of the outer casing, the inner casing having a sliding water-sealed fit with the walls of the outer casing, the outer casing havingan enlargement on one side thereof forming a passageway disposed alongside both ports of the outer casing and being in communication with one of the two ports in the outer casing at all times, whereby liquid entering the outer casing from either of the ports of the outer casing will l,pass along and outside of the inner casing to the lower part of the outer casing, and said lower part of outer casing including said enlarged passageway having communication with the inlet portof the inner casing, said outer casing having a third port for receiving liquid and having communication with the inlet port of the inner casing and having a deflecting lip assooiated therewith for directing incoming liquid from the third port directly into the intake opening of the inner casing.

3. A pump having an outer casing provided with four openings therein comprising an intake opening and a discharge opening and a pair of other openings, a centrifugal pump mounted within the outer casing and having an inner casing provided with an axially disposed intake opening mounted for rotation about the axis of the pump and the inner casing having an extension provided with a discharge opening adapted to register with either of the two openings which are adapted to be connected to a circulatory system, one side of the outer casing having an enlargement extending alongside and communi-A cable with one of said two openings at a time, said enlargement then extending further downwardly and then upwardly to a point opposite said axially disposed intake opening, whereby new fluid may be conducted into the inner pump casing and the old fluid may be discharged through the discharge opening.

4. A centrifugal pump comprising inner and outer casings, the outer casing having a pair of openings and the inner casing having a peripheral opening and being adapted to rotate about the axis of the centrifugal pump and having an opening surrounding said axis, an enlargement on one side of the outer casing extending past said two openings and communicable therewith one at a time to the lower part of the casing and then extending upwardly and communicating with the opening surrounding the axis of the centrifugal pump, the outer casing also having an intake opening for new fluid and a, discharge opening whereby incoming fluid from one of the pair of openings will be directed to the bottom of the outer casing and up through the centrifugal pump and exhausted from the centrifugal pump through the other of said pair of openings and whereby old fluid may be discharged directly out of the discharge opening of the outer casing.

WILLIAM L. DUNN. FRED C. RANKIN. 

